On the 18th September 2011 I parked along side Crummock Water in the Lake District to hike up to Grasmoor for a bit of Wildcamping on the summit.
Walking on Lad Hows Ridge between Cinderdale Beck on the left and Rannerdale Beck to my right, the summit is only 1.6 miles away.

I arrived and parked along side Crummock Water around 4.30pm I purposely left it late been a sunday I didnt want to arrive on the summit too early as I have done in the past, Ingleborough to name one where I was hanging around for hours before I was able to pitch without scores of hikers on the summit, this time was a miss judgement.
I didnt estimate the time it would take to the summit via lad Hows Ridge it was a challenge I didnt expect, very tiring on the legs and some scrambling near the top was needed.
Near dark on reaching the summit entering low cloud my great views a few hundred feet lower had gone wish I put my tent up lower down when I said in my video would have witnessed a great sunset instead rain and wind and no views this brings back many bad memories with Paul lol
I proceeded to errect the Akto in thick fog by this time, and thought to myself I would get a brew of tea on quick sharp then Daves Wild Camping Kitchen was in full swing on the menu this even was Sheperds Pie and Chicken Korma “Pack’n’ Go” from Be-Well Ltd and how nice of a change for me they were, easy cooked with 350ml of boiling water stir and leave to stand for 6 mins.
After spending all the evening a prisoner in my tent due to rain I read the newspaper and then it was time to retire, I woke several times during the night to look out the opening in the top of my door hoping but not expecting to see stars only to see the same fog, it never shifted all night.

Morning came I had my alarm set for 6.20am to catch what I didnt really expect to see, the sunrise and there was no change at all a thick covering no views whatsoever, I turn back over to sleep till around 9am when I got up to my breakfast, Cereal Start “Pack’ n’ Go” by Be-Well ltd.

I started to packup my tent then the heavens opened I got soaked 🙁 on walking back to the car I was hoping I didnt leave the headlights on, all was well.

Thanks for reading and supporting my website with your comments, till next time,

David Murphy
Daves Wildcamping

My Route up Grasmoor

Grasmoor Summit Shelter

Hilleberg Akto Summit of Grasmoor

My Akto On Grasmoor

View of Crummock & Buttermere

View from Lad How on way Up to Grasmoor

View from to Grasmoor Summit

Waterfall on way back down

My Actual Route

Grasmoor

The huge bulk of the Grasmoor mountain seen over the Crummock Water valley

Grasmoor is distinguished by its steep western flank, dropping dramatically to Crummock Water. This face is however not suitable for rock climbers as there is little clean rock, although Alfred Wainwright describes a challenging route up the face in his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells.[1] To the east the fell is linked to others by Crag Hill and Coledale Hause. Grasmoor is also home to the most extensive scree slopes in the North Western Fells.

Name

Topography

The North Western Fells occupy the area between the rivers Derwent and Cocker, a broadly oval swathe of hilly country, elongated on a north-south axis. Two roads cross from east to west, dividing the fells into three convenient groups. The central sector, rising between Whinlatter Pass and Newlands Pass, includes Grasmoor.

The highest ground in the North Western Fells is an east-west ridge in this central sector, beginning with Grasmoor above Crummock Water and then gradually descending eastwards over Crag Hill, Sail, Scar Crags and Causey Pike. Grasmoor has the greatest elevation, although Crag Hill stands at the hub of the range.

From the valley floor near Little Town at the eastern end, the ridge requires four miles (6 km) of gradual ascent to attain the summit of Grasmoor. Starting at the shores of Crummock Water in the west, the same is achieved by a single slope of scree in less than a quarter of the distance. Grasmoor is Lakeland's terminal height par excellence.

The summit area is a gently domed promenade of moss and short grass,[1] running along the ridgeline with a narrow constriction in the middle. This is created primarily by the scooped-out bowl of Dove Crags on the northern face. To the east of this plateau are broad smooth slopes descending to a wide unnamed col at 2,368 ft (722 m). This connects onward to Crag Hill. At the western end the summit area narrows, culminating at the subsidiary top of Grasmoor End (2,445 ft) which crowns the western face. Great fans of scree descend to the lakeside road below. Grasmoor has one minor ridge which descends south westward over Lad Hows (1,397 ft) before a steeper fall to the valley floor.

To the south of Grasmoor is the valley of Rannerdale, which flows to Crummock Water between Lad Hows and the neighbouring Wandope. This drainage is supplemented by Cinderdale Beck, separating Lad Hows from the main body of the fell. The northern flank of the ridge stands above Liza Beck. This stream also makes due west for Crummock Water, but is diverted northward by the low top of Lanthwaite Hill to join the Cocker after its exit from the lake. An area of lowland to the north west is thus annexed to Grasmoor from the natural territory of Whiteside.

Geology

The surface rocks of Grasmoor are composed primarily of the Ordovician Kirkstile Formation. These are laminated mudstone and siltstone, typical of the Skiddaw range.[2] There is no history of mining beneath the slopes of Grasmoor.[3]

Summit and view

The top of the fell lies toward the western end of the summit plateau, marked by a huge sprawling cairn. There are many smaller cairns and the top is characterised by sheep-mown grass.[1] The view is extensive although robbed of some foreground by the extent of the summit. All of the major Lakeland ranges are in sight with the exception of the Far Eastern Fells, with High Stile above Crummock Water perhaps the highpoint.[1] This is best seen from the western end of the plateau.[4]

Ascents

The obvious way is direct up the screes from Lanthwaite on the Crummock Water road, picking through the rock scenery above to appear on Grasmoor End from the north west. This involves 2,000 ft (610 m) of ascent in about half a mile. From the same starting point a detour along Liza Beck/ Gasgale Gill can be used to give access to the northern slopes. A way can then be found almost direct to the summit around the rim of Dove Crags. From Rannerdale a choice of routes arises, either climbing the Lad Hows ridge or following Red Gill a little to the west. Finally Coledale Hause can be used to gain the main ridge between Crag Hill and Grasmoor. This can be reached from Lanthwaite or as the first objective of a longer march from Braithwaite in the east. Coledale Hause connects to Hopegill Head and the fells to the north, providing further indirect possibilities.[1][4] The summit was conquered by a Rolls Royce in 1982.[citation needed]

This entry was posted on Monday, July 25th, 2011 at 3:04 pm and is filed under Grasmoor Lake District.
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15 Responses to “Wild Camping On Grasmoor Lake District”

I thought I was prolific,just got in from a wildcamp Fylingdale and hike the next day to Lila’s Cross.
Absolutely knackered..
But u and Muss r different league,that’s obvious.
U r right,I am mad,prefer not to be,it’d be a lot easier for me,that’s for sure.
Embarrased about that,trust me,I’ve learnt from my boys,we’re different.
I’m a very private person,really.
But drawn in,cause I love to wildcamp.
I know I rant and rave and have an uncanny knack of upsetting people,sorry bout that.
Please,sorry.
Dave,hope u have a wonderful time.
How can u not.
U’r wildcamping.
U won’t be able to beat u’r last video,but u deserve,a chilled wildcamp.
Take care,
Dave dude,savour evey moment,weathers cool.
I know,from last night.
Enjoy.

Getting windy now, not as strong as am used to rain stopped, fog coming and going , I am pitched a few hundred yards from the frog point I put a light in my tent and went to walk up and take a photo. Keep looking behind Incase I lost sight of tent and I bottled as it was getting to risky

just read your extra long comment properly killy the signal was poor the other night that on top of rain wind and fog couldn’t find a better spot to sit and comment. Hope you enjoyed your last hike and when’s the vid coming, who’s upset ? Certainly not me, and am a private person too I never discuss my business or life outside Wildcamping on here.
Hope you are well and living the dream mate.